On Sept. 9, The Weekly sent questions to candidates for public office in Sunnyvale. Candidates had until Sept. 24 to respond to the questionnaire. Below are the responses provided by District 2 candidate Jim Davis. His opponent, incumbent Alysa Cisneros, did not respond to multiple emails soliciting her responses. Responses are presented verbatim.
What are the most important concerns of the residents in your District?
Davis: Residents say that they are concerned about traffic issues. There are concerns about Public Safety. Citizens are also concerned about the bond issue for a Library.
The traffic unit in Public Safety should return to 5 officers. I also am in favor of installing speed humps in certain areas.
Public Safety is not hiring enough officers to address the vacancy that occur due to retirements.
I do not support taxing our public to build a new Library. More space should be built for the children and a quiet space for computer users.
How will you balance the will of the majority while protecting the rights of the individual?
Davis: There is no simple answer to this question. The merits of each issue must be addressed and assessed individually.
Sunnyvale needs housing. What will you do to ensure that Sunnyvale ramps up the production of below market-rate housing?
Davis: We need to do things to expedite the planning process. We also need to look closely at our fee structure. We just work with our state Legislators to find more ways to produce affordable housing.
Government moves slowly. Where is the balance between studying, analyzing, assessing a subject and getting it done?
Davis: Improving the process is a never ending job. You can’t stop trying to find new solutions. Trying to find efficiency should be a steady job. The world is an ever changing planet. We need to Appreciate the challenges that the world gives us.
Do you support the changes proposed for the charter? If so, explain why those changes are necessary.
Davis: The proposed changes to the Sunnyvale Charter are positive. Replacing gender references brings the Charter into the 21st Century. Requiring 24 Council meetings a year does not really change the operation of the City. It does not preclude more meetings. Removing the barrier for citizenship does not sink the boar. It allows for a wider view of the world and that is not bad.
The city is going out for a bond to pay for a new library. What do you see as the path forward should voters reject that bond measure?
Davis: If the bond issue for a new Library should fail then, I propose that we move forward with efforts to enlarge our current library. We need a larger area of Children programs. Users of the City’s computers should have an enclosed space to work in. These investments could be accomplished much cheaper than $290 Million dollars.
With some pretty ambitious environmental goals, how do you see the city balancing those goals with competing goods such as financial impact, the will of residents and so forth?
Davis: The environment, financial impact, and will of the people are what we need to use as a guiding rule. All three components are important but, we can not let one component overwhelm the other two. When considering a project or a proposal the three components must be used to define the best resolution.
Election day is Nov. 5, 2024. To register to vote, visit the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters website. The deadline to register to vote is 15 days before the election.